Jaymi Anderson: The game of Life

Jaymi L. Anderson

Age: 40

Family: Husband of 16 years, Bryan; two daughters, Brook, 10, and Carter, 8

Occupation: Stay-at-home mom

About: Jaymi enjoys interacting with other women and does so through speaking to moms groups in northern Colorado, as well as facilitating a leadership group for high school girls in her church. She also stays busy volunteering at her children's school and teaching English at the Global Refugee Center. When she has time, she enjoys hiking with her family and finds that the kids usually stop whining after the first mile.

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Summer days are long and hot and, for kids like mine who are used to being in school all day, the days get boring if you don’t have a lot of activities planned.

I always try to strike a balance for my girls somewhere between constant entertainment and zero structure because, while being busy keeps them out of trouble, I think it’s important for them to be able to occupy themselves without adult direction.

Some days, my theory works beautifully and I am impressed with their imaginations. They construct elaborate play scenarios or create business plans for moneymaking endeavors like car washes and lemonade stands.

Some days, they end up in their rooms because they fought for 45 minutes over who got to lay on what pillows in the couch cushion fort in the living room.

Our existence in summer is relaxed. We go to the pool, the girls jump on the trampoline with neighbor kids, we go to the library and eat popsicles. Sometimes, when days just seem too hot and too monotonous and my kids can’t think of a single thing to do, I usually suggest playing a board game together.

Unfortunately for me, one of their favorites is the game of Life. Now, I am glad that my kids are out of the Candyland stage because, as an adult, you can only play those mind-numbing preschool games for so long before you start cheating in order to make them more entertaining.

Or maybe that’s just me.

However, playing long-lasting board games like Monopoly or Life with kids when I am not in the proper frame of mind feels like a slow way to die. Yet, when I am in the mood to play Life, it can be fun. And although not all of the scenarios on the board are realistic (you only pay taxes if and when you land on the proper space), the game can allow for some teachable moments.

For instance:

You have to pay back loans – with interest.

Some careers pay more than others – even if you go to college.

Buying a big screen television is a bad idea when you don’t have much money in your bank account.

When you gamble, you lose most of the time.

Long-term investments can pay off.

Even though there’s no monetary value in them at the time, life-enriching experiences like having kids pay off in the end.

Life isn’t fair. Some people seem to breeze through, only landing on the easy spaces, while you might end up owing money every turn.

You have a choice whether or not to bilk your family for money, even if they have more than you.

At some point, your sister will probably make you cry.

When the game ends, all the pieces go back in the box, and we might not remember who won, but we will remember how everyone behaved.

Special Note: I want to wish a happy anniversary on Saturday to my husband Bryan, with whom I have been playing Life for 17 years now. I love you. Thanks for always being on my team.

Jaymi Anderson is married with two daughters. Read her Fridays on Greeley Moms.

Playing long-lasting board games like Monopoly or Life with kids when I am not in the proper frame of mind feels like a slow way to die.